A Family Garden that’s Bursting with Activity

The challenge

The owners of this modern detached property in Rugby had plenty of outdoor space, but it was currently underused thanks to a lack of any practical features. The garden, which surrounded the whole house, consisted mainly of lawn with no patios and just a couple of tiny flowerbeds.

Our clients had small children, and they wanted us to design a safe, child-friendly environment that also had plenty of seating areas for adults. As they had a keen interest in gardening, they asked if we were able to improve the condition of the soil.

The concept

Our designer got to work to produce a landscape design that would incorporate plenty of patio and seating space for the grown-ups as well as a play area for the children.

Using Sahara sandstone paving we laid patios and pathways that encircled the whole house. Charcoal rumbled setts edged and defined the paving, creating a flow around the lawn and play area with paths leading to the gates on both sides of the house.

To ensure the play area would be safe for children’s activities, we lined it with geotextile membrane and covered it in bark chippings to form a soft ground cover. The divots in the lawn were tidied and patched up to make the existing grass safer for playing, and the charcoal setts around the lawn produced an easy-maintenance mowing strip.

As well as investing in plants and soil improvers, we also erected a beehive composter, a potting store and double bin storage. We wanted to make the garden as functional as possible for our clients, so they could indulge in their passion for gardening.

Using a mixture of reds and greens, we designed an informal and low maintenance planting scheme in the beds along the sides and corner of the garden. We erected trellis screens at the back of the beds to accommodate a variety of climbing plants.

To enhance the scene, we placed two garden mirrors on the fence between the planting scheme as well as installing two double spotlights to give a splash of light over the beds. To add further interest, a small rock water feature can be found nestling amongst the plants in the far corner of the garden.

Another trellis screen was erected across the end of the patio to cover the shed. We also took care of other practicalities such as adapting the hinges on the gate by the bins to allow it to open outwards.

Drainage was another consideration, and we managed to devise a practical solution. We installed drainage into the lawn that pipes into the main water system, and this took any flow of water away from the garden.

The conclusion

This garden underwent a major transition from underused outdoor space to a place that was buzzing with activity. Our clients were delighted with their lively and attractive garden, and their children were equally happy to have their own new play areas.

This was a landscape design that gave a new energy and vigour to what was once a dull and lifeless garden.